Go! Check out the Pink Lions, man!
October 10th, 2007 by arvind
It is Arvind here again with my quirky reports and photos from London.
On my way to the Burma Peace march in London last week, I came across these pink lions in Haymarket, London.
This has to be one of the most tasteless things I have ever seen.
Just what do you think the designer was thinking? Was he taking the mickey? What other tasteless examples of decor have you come cross?
‘I came across these pink lions in Haymarket’.
Thats illegal in so many ways Arvind.
OMG! How bad is that, are you sure it wasn’t a gay pride march mixed up with the Monks march? Lets not go there.
Tastless examples of decor has to be the house Mom and Dad took over 10 years ago, 70’s style and untouched, bright yellow wall papaer that I loved to pick.
They say its back in vogue right now, hhhm?
Thats a bit harsh on your mum and dad. Especially as you picked the wallpaper yourself.
I guess so! Not even Ray Charles would have accepted that style!
Sorry to reply again
but only 3,000 people turned up- which represents approx 0.005% of the population of London.
Rearrange these words to make a sentence
wash complete a what out
you get more watching the darts in Purfleet.
It aint about the dart at Lakeside Gary, its about ‘ the day out’ - The commentator, Sid whats his face, classic!
Hardly athletes are they?
What a complete washout
You get more, watching the darts in Purfleet.
I’m sorry is that second sentence correct? What’s a Purfleet?
Purfleet is a small town on the Eastern edge of Londno, midway between Ockendon and Dagenham.
The only thing it is noted for is the Circus Tavern where they hold Darts matches with Sid Wardell commentating - oh and each week they also hold a modern burlesque show with some of the more endowed members of the female side of humanity displaying their crowd pleasers.
<p>Ah right, thanks for clearing that one up guys….</p>
<p>You English and your dialect :0) .</p>
Scary.
And Arvind I read your report where you wrote
During the march in London today to support the Burmese people, I came across a number of Burmese and other monks.
Had you been at the Cialis?
Sorry to add another comment
BUT
the turnout was 3,000
out of a potential 7 million in London alone. So in short about 0.005% of the population turned out.
In short nobody really cared that much. Also consider that Chas and Dave attracted this much over 3 nights at Catford theatre at the same time.
Bit of a washout really.
Arvind - how many of your t-shirts did you shift? Or did you take a hit on this one?
Ouch Gary! At least answer Arvind’s question on bad taste, some input at least?
OK
bad taste to me is appearing on blogs to tout your wares behind the veil of helping people whereas the person really being helped is the one making the dough.
Thanks Gary - you are always full of more marketing ideas for me.
T-shirts - now that’s a good one
Chas and Dave eh? Are they still going? If they are on again down there let me know, I’ve got a mate that lives in East London and I’ll be down there like a shot.
The most tasteless thing I have encountered was when I sold a house about 10 years ago and before I left I decorated it in this goddam awful 70’s style decor with bright yellow paper.
Libby - sounds very much like the house my parents bought!
Was it in Coventry by any chance?
PS Bright Yellow is supposed to be auspicious. In face bright anything and anything yellow.
Gary
Arvind clearly swings both ways……..’There were also a few buddhist nuns too’
I dare say those lions came from a Gay Pride.
Ha! For sure, as camp as xmas.
I too like the lions, in the MANE!
I like the Lions. They add just a bit of color…
I quite often get tasteless gifts, China can claim to be world class in making the most disgusting ‘desk tidy’ items ever seen. Also many places I visit have grotesque statues and so on. I’ve almost convinced most of the Chinese people who know me to stop buying me useless and tasteless knick knacks/ornaments, etc.
Virtually every Chinese company/business has two lions outside but this is the first time I’ve seen pink ones.
I think the most tasteless item I was ever given was an ashtray designed to look like a rastafarian sitting in a pineapple boat. This was bought by the previously mentioned barking mad stealth bitch I was unfortunate to have living with me many years ago.
Arvind,
I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon but I have a couple of serious questions.
What exactly does marching in London do for Burma? The Generals have not, to my knowledge, located a weekend home in Pall Mall, they live in Rangoon. Secondly if I was them and did’t pay much attention to Brumese marching in Burma would you expect me to give a rats arse about a few Mockney’s marching in London?
Surely this is like someone in Kentucky shouting my name down the street and expecting me to react to that whilst I’m 15,000km away.
Marching in Rangoon would be infinitely more effective, probably explains the turnout. By the way, did you get the sunny delight covered dwarves along? again, if not, probably explains the turnout.
Gareth,
The point of the Burma march, though not directly influencing the generals in Rangoon is two fold:-
1. To show the people of Burma that we care about them and we are aware of their plight.
2. To influence the western governments to put more “pressure” on the generals and on the likes of China, India and Thailand into taking a positive stand.
Sadly, nothing seems to have happend with point 2.
Already we hear less and less abuot the Burma struggle.
The western powers have returned to their normal passive state, occassionally making the odd noise.
What would would YOU suggest is the way forward?!
Arvind
Just today China did reach a milestone in this and put pressure on the Burmese, however this was, and I’m only gambling here, their own idea and part of their gradual shift from their normal restrained international stance.
I would suggest you find out which companies do major trade with the Burmese and companies that do business with companies from Burma. Then find out who is their major trading partner as a nation (in this case China and Thailand).
At this point you should be able to see how many people in the world will actually exert the ultimate power, the power of the consumer. Target your protestations at boycotting these companies and companies of countries who trade with Burma (not easy for China as pretty much everything is made here - hahaha). Once the revenues are hit and leaders are pressurised by the corporate world you should see some action - at least thats my projection.
Lets face it you couldn’t see less.
There should be 3 lions on the shirt, for ENG-ER-LAND, rather than 2 or was there one missing Arvind?
Definitely only 2 lions Libby.
The third one was on the Burma march supporting the sunny delight covered dwarves
Arvind
Point 1 How is 3000 people wandering through London on a Sunday afternoon going to show the people of Burma that you care about them? I can see that the state controlled TV and Radio are going to be bending over backwards, Sky TV style, to report on a bunch of ramblers in the UK.
Point 2 see the above
Gareth, i don’t have the answer but clearly Arvind’s pissing against the wind whilst induldging ina bit of self publication is not the answer. What does Dr Gareth or Gary suggest?
Arvind should consider going to Burma and kicking off with the military or possibly doing a kamikaze mission- I’d even charter the plane for him.
Bottom line is this- its easy to complain when you are thousands of miles away from the action. Its different to actually do something about it on the frontline.
Me?
I couldn’t care less about Burma and the skinheads kicking off. So I do nothing about it.
At least I am consistent.
I do have some stickers for sale
?3 a pop
with the legend ‘burmese skins take it up the junta’
Best thing is I got some indiad orphans to make them for me so I haven’t even really paid for them.
Put me down for one, it can go next to my communist party sticker on the back of my car.